The EU’s growing budget is facing strong opposition from Sweden. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson is warning of new costs running into the billions, while France is pushing for a quick decision. Now the question is being raised once again: Why should Sweden continue to pay ever-larger sums to Brussels?.
EU heads of state and government met on Thursday to discuss the long-term budget for 2028–2034. The negotiations are marked by disagreements between countries that want to limit costs and governments that are calling for increased joint spending.
Sweden is one of the EU’s major net contributors and has already warned of a sharp increase in membership fees. Ahead of the summit on October 15, a new draft budget was presented that drew criticism from the Swedish government.
Kristersson: Sweden Is Not an ATM
According to the Prime Minister, the Irish draft budget would Ulf Kristersson increase Sweden's EU contribution by several billion kronor more. The prime minister therefore sharply criticized the proposal, reports TT.
– Sweden is not an ATM for the EU.
He also questioned how the costs of joint European initiatives are presented.
– So money doesn't become free just because it's called "European.".
Macron Wants to Speed Up the Decision
President of France Emmanuel Macron wants an ambitious budget that includes new forms of financing. According to information provided to the Rapporteur, he wants to finalize the agreement as early as December, before the French presidential election in April.
Kristersson rejects the idea that Sweden's negotiations should be guided by the French election. He believes the government should not accept a compromise simply because other member states want to wrap things up.
Swexit – the alternative to the EU's billion-krona demand
The EU's long-term budget requires unanimity, which means that Sweden can block an agreement. The government's current strategy is to use the negotiations to limit Sweden's membership fee.
At the same time, the budget dispute is bringing “Swexit”—Sweden’s withdrawal from the EU—back into the spotlight. Proponents see it as a solution to end the costly membership fee and shift decision-making regarding Swedish tax dollars from the EU’s budget negotiations to the Swedish Parliament.
Maybe I can say a few words about Brussels.
🖕
What the hell do we get for our money? (Well, we're paying for our own...)
downfall)
We must leave this corrupt organization before it's too late.
We have everything to gain from a Swexit, so why should we pay for France’s mismanaged economy? Let the French take the hit for how they voted—we sure as hell aren’t going to.
That idiot doesn't get it—or doesn't care—that the Swedish people aren't the government's ATM!
So start by cleaning up your own backyard!
And leave the EU instead of complaining!
Uffe, the gender-switcher, protests arbitrarily but then backs down as usual to keep his options open for a new top job in the EU or the military alliance. Or perhaps as a top lobbyist. These scumbags have endless opportunities…